Michigan Man - Sportsman of the Year

Derek Jeter was recently named SI's Sportsman of the Year - just another accolade to add to his already crowded mantle, which includes MVP Awards, World Series Rings, and sexual conquests with some of the world's most beautiful women.

From the outside looking in, his life looks like what most men would consider a "fantasy".......Bascially, he is a straight G (in the metaphorical sense.)

I know that he hails from Kzoo, is a Michigan Fan and have seen him on the sidelines at Michigan Stadium before....but what, if any, real connection to the University does he have?

He was awarded a baseball scholarship at UofM - Did he actually attend and play for the University?

Please elaborate - I want to make sure I have all my bases covered before I start bragging about another Michigan Man's accolades

Do any of you actually have any evidence that Phelps only took a few classes and did poorly in them?

I have no evidence besides the fact that he had a class in Chem 1800 after me one semester and I always saw him waiting in the atrium and filing in to class. As I said before I don't think he got a degree, but he was a student manager on the Swim team for 4 years. I'm pretty sure you have to maintain some sort of academic standing to continue to call yourself a student manager.

Unless any of you have some hard facts on Phelps, you all need to back off on the "Phelps wouldn't cut it academically" and "only took a few classes" crap. He must have maintained at least a 2.0 to continue on a student for 4 years. Not a great benchmark, but it is the same one to which we hold every other Michigan athlete.

Derek Jeter attended the University of Michigan in the fall of 1992. He took a couple classes and lived in Couzens hall. He attended several football games and sat in the student section. I know because I saw him there. He was a genuinely nice guy then when he was less famous. Most years he comes to the Ohio State game but I believe he was in St. Barts with Minka Kelly this year. A little harsh to call him a bandwagon fan.

I think he attended fall '92 and fall '93. It was always my understanding that when he signed with the Yankees in high school, his father put in a clause that they would pay for Derek's school whenever and wherever he wanted to go.

I was very good friends with Shanti Lal, who was one of Derek's best friends from high school. I am also from Kalamazoo, and always knew of Derek even though I went to a rival high school. I always followed Derek through Shanti, and we were excited when he signed the Nike contract, and when he was finally called up for the ALCS in '95 (to sit on the bench).

I lived in Couzens Freshman year during 1991-92. Apparently Jeter, then a high school senior, visited some friends there. One of my hallmates saw him and, after learning who he was, asked him to play on our intramural softball team. Jeter politely declined.

I've always liked Derek Jeter, even though I'm from Boston and a diehard Red Sox fan, and this was from before I knew he went to Michigan. I like him because he's a huge class act. Plus you can't say that the Yankees just bought him since he was drafted there (although it's a strong possibility that a contract with $teinbrenner is a reason he's still there and not somewhere else).